As expected, Gov. Rick Snyder has signed a bill that could clear the way for a wolf hunt in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula as early as this fall -- and influence which types of species are hunted well into the future.

The Republican governor announced Wednesday that he has signed Senate Bill 288. It gives the state’s Natural Resources Commission the power to on its own determine game species and hunting seasons for those species. The previous Michigan law required the Legislature to designate a game species, after which the NRC could determine whether there should be a hunting season.

The NRC is expected to vote Thursday on a Department of Natural Resources recommendation that a limited wolf hunt be held this fall in three parts of the state’s Upper Peninsula.

A coalition called Keep Michigan Wolves Protected says Senate Bill 288 is a deliberate attempt to circumvent their effort to a put a wolf hunt proposal on the November 2014 ballot and negate the collection of more than 250,000 voter signatures. The coalition wants to repeal the 2012 state law that designates the wolf as a game species, allowing the NRC to consider the hunt. A state elections board could verify soon whether the coalition submitted enough voter signatures to make the ballot.

The coalition, backed by the Humane Society of the United States, says Senate Bill 288 would take away the right to vote on wolf hunting and other wildlife issues in the future.

Senate Bill 288 itself does not contain a spending appropriation, so it is possible opponents could try to repeal that law as well.

Supporters of a wolf hunt say current rules allowing farmers to shoot troublesome wolves aren't sufficient. They say wolves are causing urgent problems and sparking safety concerns in areas including Ironwood, with people living in fear and having to consider whether they should let their children play in backyards.

Supporters of Senate Bill 288 also say it would help make sure hunting decisions are based on scientific management principles. They say it fits into the spirit of Proposal G, approved by Michigan voters in 1996. It gave the Natural Resources Commission authority to regulate hunting in the state based on scientific management.

“This action helps ensure sound scientific and biological principles guide decisions about management of game in Michigan,” Snyder said in a statement announcing his bill signing. “Scientifically managed hunts are essential to successful wildlife management and bolstering abundant, healthy and thriving populations.”

Senate Bill 288 also allows members of the military to obtain free hunting and fishing licenses and eliminates a requirement that the military member be stationed outside of the state.

Snyder also signed Senate Bill 289, which is aimed at guaranteeing the legal right to hunt and fish in Michigan.